behind the scenes - What has been Alec Guinness's attitude toward Star Wars?

_{inspired by What has been Harrison Ford's attitude toward Star Wars?}

I've heard claims here and there about Alec Guinness's attitude toward the Star Wars franchise, with some claiming that he hates it or used to hate it, etc.

Did he like Star Wars and then grew to dislike it? Or vice versa? If he ever did dislike Star Wars, then why? etc.

Basically, what has been Alec Guinness's attitude(s) towards Star Wars?

Answer

He was contemptuous towards Star Wars before he even started!

Here's what he wrote in a letter to a friend when he was first approached for a role in the original Star Wars:

I have been offered a movie (20th Cent. Fox) which I may accept, if they come up with proper money. London and N. Africa, starting in mid-March. Science fiction – which gives me pause – but is to be directed by Paul [sic] Lucas who did "American Graffiti, which makes me feel I should. Big part. Fairy-tale rubbish but could be interesting perhaps.

And here's his commentary from while he was on set:

... new rubbish dialogue reaches me every other day on wadges of pink paper – and none of it makes my character clear or even bearable. I just think, thankfully, of the lovely bread, which will help me keep going until next April even if Yahoo collapses in a week ... I must off to studio and work with a dwarf (very sweet – and he has to wash in a bidet) and your fellow countrymen Mark Hamill and Tennyson (that can't be right) Ford. Ellison (? – No!) – well, a rangy, languid young man who is probably intelligent and amusing. But Oh, God, God, they make me feel ninety – and treat me as if I was 106. – Oh, Harrison Ford – ever heard of him?

(all emphasis mine; source)

And he remained unimpressed even years later.

From this 1982 interview:

But . . . the 'Star Wars' pictures. How did I like doing them? I liked the people very much. But, no, they're not really much fun to act in, not when you're put totally in the hands of technicians and asked to sit in a cylinder and imagine explosions. That's only amusing for a time.

Comments

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